to lick

Examples

• All

• "Sorry, bad pun, huh?" Seeing the pain in his father's face, he added, "I'm going to lick this, Dad."

  Fiction book (1994)

• That's what they expect us to do, lie in the shadows and lick our wounds.

  The Boost (1988)

• The Tea Party Republicans need to lick their wounds and get over it.

  Blog text (28)

• Who knows; when they run away to lick their wounds, maybe some of it will sink in.

  Blog text (4)

• We've had a couple weeks now to lick our wounds and figure out who we're going to be the rest of the year.

• I don't need a place to go and lick my wounds.

  The Break-Up (2006)

• We retreat to the wilderness to lick our wounds and to heal.

• Kid, sometimes you just gotta know when you're licked.

  Robots (2005)

• By the time you're 30, we should have most things licked, except accidents.

  To All a Goodnight (1980)

• The team worked hard and finally managed to lick the ongoing issues with the project.

Synonyms

F

to figure out

vsto lick

• Informal

∞ 2.2

To think about something and find an answer or understand it

implies success without specifying method or effort

S

to solve

vsto lick

∞ 1.3

To find the answer to a problem or puzzle

is about succeeding regardless of method used

W

to work out

vsto lick

950 2.8

To find a solution or plan by thinking carefully

is broader and can mean success without careful thinking

W

to work

vsto lick

361 1.0

To find the answer to a problem or question

emphasizes final success not the ongoing effort

W

to work it out

vsto lick

165 3.2

To find an answer to a problem by thinking or talking

can also mean overcoming difficulties by any means

F

to find a solution

vsto lick

41 2.7

To think of a way to solve a problem

focuses on success rather than the exact method used

P

to puzzle out

vsto lick

4 4.4

To think hard to find the answer to a difficult problem

highlights slow, effortful thinking rather than quick success

C

to crack a problem

vsto lick

3.9

Find a way to solve a hard problem

stresses succeeding in a tough case rather than ordinary cases

Antonyms

F

to fail

898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

Idioms

L

lick of

• Informal

3 6.8

A very small amount of something, often a taste like honey

L

to lick one's wounds

• Informal

2 7.0

To rest and feel better after a loss or disappointment

L

to lick someone's ass

• Offensive

9.9

To praise someone too much to get their favor in a rude way

L

to lick someone's boot

• Offensive

8.9

Praise or act very friendly toward a boss to get something for yourself

L

to lick the CEO's balls

• Offensive

9.9

To praise and obey a powerful person to get their support

L

to lick the pants off

• Informal

9.6

To beat someone completely or praise them too much

L

lick and a promise

• UK

9.9

A quick, not complete job done hastily and meant to be finished properly later

Phrasal Verbs

L

to lick into shape

• UK

1 7.1

Make something better by working on it until it is ready

L

to lick out the bowl

8.2

To eat the last food in a bowl with your tongue

L

to lick out

8.4

Use your tongue to remove food or liquid from inside a container

T

to take a good lick

• Informal

8.7

To put your tongue on food like ice cream to taste it a lot

Compounds

S

salt lick

1 6.5

A place where animals go to lick salt to get minerals

How Successful

to master

191 4.1

to lick

• Informal

24 8.0

to solve

∞ 1.3

to work out

950 2.8

Surface Forms

Etymology